A coalition of women’s rights organizations is demanding action in Ottawa following the release of a United Nations report that highlights what it says is Canada’s failure to address violence against women.…
Category: Recent Updates
After decades of waiting, women’s rights organizations celebrate changes to the Divorce Act
After decades of advocacy by women’s rights groups pressing for much needed changes to the Divorce Act, including by a coalition led by the National Association for Women and the Law (NAWL) and Luke’s Place, and the efforts of many feminists who engaged on Bill C-78; An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family…
NAWL presents to Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-78
Two federal political party leaders are ‘Up for Debate’ on gender rights – what about the rest?
OTTAWA—Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May publicly committed to participating in a federal leaders’ debate on women’s rights and gender equality in the lead-up to the October 2019 federal election. The leaders announced their commitments at the launch of Up for Debate, a non-partisan campaign calling for women’s rights and…
Open Letter: Strengthening Bill C-87, An Act respecting the reduction of poverty
NAWL signed the Open Letter to Minister Jean-Yves Duclos prepared by Canada Without Poverty Campaign 2000 and Citizens for Public Justice to strengthen Bill C-87, An Act respecting the reduction of poverty. The Honourable Minister Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 February 1, 2019 Open…
Letter Regarding CSC Consultation on Bill C-83
Malheureusement, cet editorial n’est pas disponible en français.…
NAWL signs Joint Statement calling on Canada to end sterilization of Indigenous women without consent
NAWL signs Joint Statement calling on Canada to end sterilization of Indigenous women without consent: Agissons rapidement pour faire cesser la stérilisation des femmes autochtones sans leur consentementAgissons rapidement pour faire cesser la stérilisation des femmes autochtones sans leur consentement…
Alexandra Machicado-McGee: While politicians flex, she suffers
Malheureusement, cet editorial n’est pas disponible en français. https://inter-alia.ca/2018/11/29/opinion-while-politicians-flex-she-suffers/…
NAWL and Luke’s Place Joint Brief on Bill C-78 Submitted to the Justice and Human Rights Committee
NAWL appearance before the Finance Committee on Bill C-86, November 6, 2018
Malheureusement, cet editorial n’est pas disponible en français…
NAWL Submission to Minister Blair on Dialogue re: Handguns and Assault Rifles
October 26, 2018 Hon. Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 VIA E-MAIL Dear Minister Blair: Re: Reducing violent crime: A dialogue on handguns and assault weapons I am writing on behalf of the National Association of Women and the Law/Association nationale Femmes et Droit…
Open Letter to Minister Rodriguez regarding the Court Challenges Program (CCP)
VIA E-MAIL Hon. Pablo Rodriguez Minister of Canadian Heritage House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Minister Rodriguez: As you know, prior to the October 2015 federal election, Prime Minister Trudeau promised to restore funding to the Court Challenges Program (CCP). The federal budget of 2016 allocated $5 million annually to the new CCP…
Recommendations from the NAWL consultation on VAW law reform in Canada to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
The visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (SR VAW) presented an important opportunity for the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) to convene consultations with other national feminist and equality seeking groups to focus on the potential for feminist engagement in VAW law reform…
NAWL signs open letter urging Prime Minister Trudeau to make good on his commitment to the right to housing
Une lettre ouverte exhorte le premier ministre à respecter son engagement envers le droit au logement Read the press release below about the open letter that NAWL supports to Prime Minister Trudeau on Housing Rights in Canada: Lisez le communiqué de presse ci-dessous au sujet de la lettre ouverte au Premier Ministre Trudeau que l’ANFD…
Open Letter Urges Prime Minister to Make Good on His Commitment to the Right to Housing
Today in Ottawa, advocates released an open letter urging the Prime Minister to make good on his commitment to the right to housing by enshrining that right in upcoming National Housing Strategy legislation. The letter has been signed by over 150 organizations and prominent Canadians, including NAWL. It was launched by Amnesty International Canada, Campaign…
Joint Statement on Canada’s Support for Women Human Rights Defenders in Saudi Arabia
Malheureusement, cet editorial n’est pas disponible en français. OTTAWA—The undersigned organizations express our support to Canada for its recent position on the detention of women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. We join Canada in urging Saudi Arabia to release women’s rights activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sada, and commend Minister Freeland for her uncompromising…
Brief Submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Bill C-71
May 25, 2018 Executive Summary The National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) is an incorporated not-for-profit feminist organization that promotes the equality rights of women in Canada through legal education, research, and law reform advocacy. In this submission,1 NAWL echoes the voices of other women’s organizations in supporting the steps the government has…
Joint Letter on Bill C-71, An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms
Malheureusement, cette lettre n’est disponible qu’en anglais. Jean-Marie David, Clerk of the Committee Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Sixth Floor, 131 Queen Street House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Canada Dear Jean-Marie David, RE: Bill C-71 – An Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms We are…
NAWL hosts consultation with Dubravka Šimonovic, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences
Presentation on Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence)
Presentation on Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence) Présentation au sujet du projet de loi C-65, Loi modifiant le Code canadien du travail (harcèlement et violence) Speaking notes from the presentation before to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons…